Just Catamarans - Catamaran Listings: Catch the Wind

CATCH THE WIND

We lived for many years in Portugal and one day at a craft fair met a Dr. Jeff Allen, multihull designer, author on the subject, and holder of a U.S. master boat builders certificate and a super experienced multihull cruising sailor. He was in the process of designing a new 47’ catamaran for himself. We became friends some time later he asked us if we would like to join the project and have our own boat built alongside his. After much soul searching we agreed, a custom built factory was constructed and we became his partners.

As we very quickly discovered a wealth of craftsmen in Portugal more than capable of all the multitude of jobs involved in quality boat construction. The Ferrel 47 is a testament to their quality, skill and professionalism. There a total of 4 now built. The boats were constructed on a male plug using only Lloyds approved materials. Israeli gaboon marine ply for frames and box structures, western red cedar for the hulls coring, all glued with West system epoxy resins. There are no polyester resins anywhere on these craft. Hull coring is of 18mm cedar tongued and grooved planks continuously glued. Two layers of Aramid fiber (Twaron) overlapped at the keel by some 12” then three layers of 445 gr. bi-axial glass fiber on the outside and one layer on the inside.

“Catch the Wind” was launched on May 24, 2001 and has since, with her owners aboard traveled more than 8000 nautical miles; cruised all the Canary Isles, West Africa including Senegal and sailed 200 miles into the African continent up the river Gambia. Then across the Atlantic to cruise Brazil, Guyana and now the Caribbean. She has been totally repainted with Awlgrip 2000 in Trinidad in 2003, re-antifouled and overhauled and is ready to begin a new adventure. Unfortunately my wife and I now suffer from too much arthritis to live in a maritime environment, so bring your food and personal possessions aboard (that’s all you’ll need) Off you go!

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